Don't go to any corporate chain or franchise type place. They have fixed prices they have to charge for an ATF service based on dropping the pan or going thorugh the cooler lines and they probably aren't allowed to make exceptions.

Instead, buy the ATF & Filter yourself and find an independent shop that's not to busy and doesn't b#tch about customers being in the garage to oversee the work.

Phone to get their labor charge on an oil change with customer supplied parts. Then go and offer them the job for the same money plus a $5 or $10 tip - it's the same procedure except it takes a few minutes longer to pour the ATF in slowly and be more careful with the filter removal.

If they don't believe you at first (it happens...), open the hood and show them the external spin-on filter.

As you may have seen for yourself, with a SOHC there is no need to do any disassembly - the filter can be reached by hand in between the block and the Air Intake duct without removing anything.

I've seen several different undercover "stings" targeting shady practices at Jiffy Lube specifically, overcharging, not changing any oils let alone filters.....rolling the *flush*machines and moving some hoses to *hose* the customer. Not putting the oil drain plug back on tight.....draining the oil and changing the filter....but not adding any new oil.....I have no idea if other "Oil&Lube" chains have had similar problems but I'd rather give myself a thousand paper cuts and then go for a swim in a giant pool of lemon juice than go to Jiffy lube

...The streets will flow with the blood of all the non-believers!!!! And all those who won't include their vehicles vital information in their posts!!!!

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I've seen several different undercover "stings" targeting shady practices at Jiffy Lube specifically, overcharging, not changing any oils let alone filters.....rolling the *flush*machines and moving some hoses to *hose* the customer. Not putting the oil drain plug back on tight.....draining the oil and changing the filter....but not adding any new oil.....I have no idea if other "Oil&Lube" chains have had similar problems but I'd rather give myself a thousand paper cuts and then go for a swim in a giant pool of lemon juice than go to Jiffy lube

I'm pretty much the same with you on going to Jiffy Lube. I'm not gonna let them kill my baby, LOL. Pretty much everything they do, I can either do myself, or I'll have better qualified mechanics do the job.

But, seriously people this job is so easy a 10 year old could do it!

I've done it several times, and it's just like an oil change, actually I'd say easier, because the oil filter is harder to get to than the transmission fluid filter. Or maybe about the same.

Anyways, there's no need to pay a shop to do this easy job.

Just remember when draining the fluid, so you have an idea of how much to put back in, measure it. But, first check the fluid level before changing it, and make sure it isn't low, if it's low you'll want to add a little more after the change.

...R.I.P. - My 1996 Saturn SL2, "Psycho" - 7/95-2/17/06

R.I.P. - My 2000 Saturn SL2, "Sexy" - 11/24/99-8/05/08

If you're a car begging for your life, wouldn't you want someone to add fluids?

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I'm pretty much the same with you on going to Jiffy Lube. I'm not gonna let them kill my baby, LOL. Pretty much everything they do, I can either do myself, or I'll have better qualified mechanics do the job.

But, seriously people this job is so easy a 10 year old could do it!

I've done it several times, and it's just like an oil change, actually I'd say easier, because the oil filter is harder to get to than the transmission fluid filter. Or maybe about the same.

Anyways, there's no need to pay a shop to do this easy job.

Just remember when draining the fluid, so you have an idea of how much to put back in, measure it. But, first check the fluid level before changing it, and make sure it isn't low, if it's low you'll want to add a little more after the change.

I had a friend who wanted to "help" me but not listen when doing this ONCE.....I'm trying to measure what has come out and that sorry sack of donkey dung is just going to pour what the haynes manual says is it's capacity....if you've drained it completely....thankfully I stopped him about a quart from where it needed to be.....I wound up having to open another quart for a wee bit of it, due to the amount spilled out of the other bottle while I was trying to smack the crap out of him.

...The streets will flow with the blood of all the non-believers!!!! And all those who won't include their vehicles vital information in their posts!!!!

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Here's a really dumb question. Do you need a special filter wrench for this, or will the generic one be fine. I ask, because in the past on a different vehicle, I tried a generic band style wrench and ended up with a dented filter that wouldn't come off until I used a different sized wrench. I know that those band style aren't a "one size fits all" tool.

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The band-style wrench is a "one size fits all in its range" tool. Nothing special about this, or any, canister-style filter in that regard. There are also generic strap wrenches, often used on plumbing, etc. (and useful on reeeeeally tight jar lids) that would be useful in this application.

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It'll take less time to change your own oil than it will to contact the BBB, your state's Attorney General's office, your attorney, etc. etc. after they fail to tighten your drain plug, put the wrong product in, fail to do a service for which they charge you, overtighten something, or any of the other host of things for which they're notorious for doing. I wouldn't trust them to change my Christmas tree air freshener.

LOL!! they killed a tranny in my buick a few years ago when they basically told me it was gonna die if i didnt get it flushed right then and there. they sucked it out, then replaced it WITHOUT replacing the screen/filter. i drove away. the next morning, i had to wait 15 minutes before i could put my car into gear just to goto work.

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I bought some tranny fluid today and will be stopping by the dealer tomorrow to pick up a filter but I remembered that I have some semi synthetic lucas ATF left over from my old Mustang and some lucas tranny additive I never used....... Should I use these in my Saturn? Or should I stick with the conventional stuff?

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I bought some tranny fluid today and will be stopping by the dealer tomorrow to pick up a filter but I remembered that I have some semi synthetic lucas ATF left over from my old Mustang and some lucas tranny additive I never used....... Should I use these in my Saturn? Or should I stick with the conventional stuff?

get some new oil....as far as the Lucas additive I haven't heard anyone with anything good to say about their products.....Is there a reason you want to use additive? How long has it been since your last fluid and filter change?

...The streets will flow with the blood of all the non-believers!!!! And all those who won't include their vehicles vital information in their posts!!!!

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get some new oil....as far as the Lucas additive I haven't heard anyone with anything good to say about their products.....Is there a reason you want to use additive? How long has it been since your last fluid and filter change?

I just had it sitting around and it said that it was good for regular use. Not sure when last fluid change was, I just bought the car last week (It's my 4th Saturn), but it looks kinda dingy and going through some recent repair bills from the previous owner I noticed that a fluid change was recommended.

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Fluid color won't tell you much (reeeeally old/bad fluid can still look good). Filter type will tell you something about the previous owner, I suppose.

If that's the case then someone would say "WTF did they use a dealer filter for on this POS...were they on crack?!" I get it all the time seriously, "Your car is a POS, why the **** do you care if you use cheap ****?!" Then again, there is no such thing as me being a previous owner for Sexy unless I manage to have a heart attack at 23, LOL.

...R.I.P. - My 1996 Saturn SL2, "Psycho" - 7/95-2/17/06

R.I.P. - My 2000 Saturn SL2, "Sexy" - 11/24/99-8/05/08

If you're a car begging for your life, wouldn't you want someone to add fluids?

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